Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-13
rnr - rn 81 - srArA.

EkepOFfs Mecetvtd 1s secr"tary r., ID.
Erazer ss0m ChetssJaDs, Laurel
mod Wilton.
Hg,iitor GaEette 6Jouenal. ask that you
publish this report in your daily and
wee kly editions so that the interesting
letter of DIR J. A. Eilegood Of Laurel
will be read by the hundreds Of people
throughout our State who read your pop
ular paper. There is 80 much valuable
information In Or. Ellegond's letter to
our people that take the liberty TO pub
fish it in fuli. would be pleased 10 hear
from Oentreville, Delaware City Odessa.
Dover, GEORGETOWN and Bridge7ille.
MIR j. T. Morris, recorder OF deeds of
Georgetown, Sussex county, says that he
hea furnished blanks TO every miaister,
physician. undertaken, mid wifi aud the
corcuer If Sussex county, and that The
births ara not reported because There is
no pay FIR doing il. / refer those who
refuse TO comply with the law to wi. I6,
part 2 page 4i9 section 70, chapter 38l.
lso 20 section o Of said chapter l hope
to have full report Of births from Sussex
county for the next quarter.
Report of DR.. Francis L. Springer,
Ohristiana. Our village and surrounding
country have been unusually healthy
during the past year. A few cases of
malarial fever not as many as usual
There have not been any cases of typhoid
fever, scarlet fever or diphtheria. We
have no board of health.
Report of Dr.. j. A. Eilegood, Laurel,
Sussex county. From sanitary point OF
view, an immunity from disease during
the first and last two months was the
most remarkable feature of the past year.
During the months of January, February,
and March the percentage of acute pull.
monary diseases fell much below the
average. With the exception of an occa.
sional case at any time, dysentery and
diarrhma are more prevalent during the
vernal months. This is probably dne to
two causes contamination Of both
water and air. In towns as we'll as
in the country houses waste garbage
&c. is thrown out and often stands
in puddlea near the water
supply from open wells. A part Of this
animal and vegetable refuse, through the
agency of hoar-frost, becomes incorpo-
rated with the soil and undergoes putri-
faction. With the rise OF temperature
and sinking of surface water in spring,
the products of putrifaction gain easy
access to the water, and those Of non
putrifactiOn decay and ascend TO tho air
In July and August bowel complaints OF
children are most frequent. Next 81 hig
temperature, improper bottle Fading
(Which with the advent of various ''pre
pared foodsn has unfortunately ire ased)
Is the most fruitful source. Ty ohoid
fever ia most common during autumn,
and exists to q considerable extent The
frequency of the disease seems due to the
fact that the country is fiat and sandy
with rather high water mark and
springs subject to sudden fuetua-
ton. The persistent succession Of
the fever seems attributable to the fact
that in few instances are disinfectsnts
used The type is usually mild. The
percentage could in all probability be
greatly reduced by thorough disinfection
Of the alvine discharges, and by obtaining
the water supply from deep subterraneRn
springs by means OF drive wells. Ma
larial fevers prevail throughout the year,
and on account of the destruction of
forests and improper drainage, are on the
increase. There have been no authentic
cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria or other
zymotic disease, reported in this oommu-
nifty. The drinking water of Laurel is
generally good. The wells are from Is to
25 feet deep. The town, situated on o
bank about so feet above the low tide
mark, is, therefore, tolerably well drained
naturally. The water supply of the sur
rounding country is not so good.
Report of DR.. james A. Hopkins, MIL
ton: During the months Of August, Sep
TENDER and October of the past year, 1887,
this community suffered most from an
epidemic of malarial fever. Although every
house had it's victims yet I cannot remem-
Der any deaths that occurred from that
source. There has been but little sick
ness of any kind. The health of this
place and community was never better.
We have board of health.
Il. b. FRAZER,
Secretary State Board of Health.